Rika stared at her reflection in the mirror, the bright lights casting harsh shadows over her tear-streaked face. With a shaky hand, she reached for a makeup wipe, methodically erasing the facade of confidence from her face. Each swipe felt symbolic, a cleansing not just of cosmetics but of the carefully constructed persona she'd presented at the dinner.
Brushing her teeth felt like an automatic chore, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Shame, anger, and a sliver of self-loathing warred within her. She wasn't the confident muse Luke believed her to be. She was Rika, a woman caught in a web of financial necessity and emotional compromise.
The brief comfort of a lukewarm shower couldn't wash away the sting of humiliation. The shared bath with Luke, once a point of awkward intimacy, now felt like a distant memory. Tonight, the silence between them wasn't companionship; it was a chasm of unspoken truths.
A pang of guilt, unexpected and sharp, pierced through her turmoil. She wasn't fulfilling her duties tonight. No post-dinner cleanup, no shared bed, no fulfillment of the "comprehensive stress relief experience" promised in the contract. The guilt gnawed at her, a conflicting knot tightening in her stomach.
Emerging from the bathroom, completely naked, a shiver of vulnerability ran down her spine. The stark reality of her situation hit her as she remembered the zero-tolerance clothing policy. No sleep shirt, no blanket – nothing to ward off the chill creeping into the room. NakedMaids Inc.'s rules were clear: complete nudity, even during sleep.
Wrapping her arms around herself for a semblance of warmth, Rika made her way to the living room. The sight of the plush couch, her designated sleeping quarters for the night, felt like a stark reminder of the limitations of her freedom. The apartment, usually a haven of sorts, now felt sterile and cold. She opted to sleep on the living room couch, the plush leather offering little comfort against the emotional turmoil within.
Luke, oblivious to the storm brewing within her, emerged from his bedroom, a book clutched in his hand. "Heading to bed," he announced, a smile playing on his lips. "You sure you'll be okay on the couch?"
Rika forced a smile, the effort almost comical in its transparency. "Absolutely," she chirped, her voice strained. "Sleep well, Luke."
Luke nodded, his obliviousness a fresh wave of pain. "Alright, well, sleep tight. See you in the morning."
He offered a casual goodnight kiss on the forehead, the gesture leaving a cold emptiness in its wake. As his footsteps faded into the distance, Rika curled up on the edge of the couch, the cool leather a stark contrast to the warmth she yearned for.
With a final smile, he retreated to his bedroom, leaving Rika alone in the oppressive silence. Tears welled up in her eyes again, spilling over like a dam overflowing. Sleep, a blessed escape in most situations, remained elusive. Her mind replayed the events of the night in a relentless loop, each humiliating comment echoing in the silence. The carefully constructed image of a confident muse crumbled under the scrutiny of Luke's colleagues, revealing the raw vulnerability beneath.
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Tears, hot and silent, streamed down Rika's face as she curled deeper into the unforgiving embrace of the couch. Sleep, usually a welcome refuge, offered no solace tonight. Her mind was a battlefield, replaying the evening's events on a loop, each barbed comment a fresh wound.
The carefree laughter of their childhood echoed in her ears, a stark contrast to the cold reality of the present. Back then, running through sprinklers and building blanket forts were the extent of their adventures. Now, her childhood memories are fodder for amusement at a business dinner.
A bitter chuckle escaped her lips, devoid of humor. Naked Maid. The very term seemed to mock her, a constant reminder of the power imbalance, the objectification that was now an undeniable part of her life.
As the night deepened, a sliver of acceptance, cold and unwelcome, began to settle in. Three months. That's what the contract stipulated, three months of baring not just her body, but also her soul, to a man who saw her as a quirky accessory.
YOU ARE READING
Naked Maids Inc.
RomanceHi! I'm, uh, Rika, your personal naked maid! Here to clean, cook, help you sleep better, and tend to your every need, anytime you want, completely naked of course! But there's more! Grocery shopping, keeping you company at events, waking you up in t...
